Related Content

The 3- and 5-year-old boys were taken to South Lake Hospital and transferred to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. The 5-year-old died a week later.

As a result of an investigation by the Joint Homicide Investigative Team, the District-9 Medical Examiner's Office determined the boy's cause of death to be inhalation of products of combustion and the manner of death to be homicide.

The state fire marshal's office determined the cause of the fire to be arson.

Witnesses reported that Cruz asked neighbors not to call 911 and that when police and firefighters arrived, he told them no one was inside the home. It wasn't until about 10 minutes later that neighbors realized two other children were still inside, police said.

"A lot of us here feel guilty. A lot of us could have helped, so a lot of guilt and frustration," said a neighbor.

Stephanie Grimes, another neighbor, said she doesn't know what happened inside her neighbor's home.

"My child and his friend shouldn't have been the ones doing that. Luis should have done that himself," Grimes said. "Our son thought Caleb and Thomas were in day care."

Grimes said all they can do now is continue to keep the 3-year-old and his mother in their thoughts. They hope there is at least one good ending to the story.

Cruz is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse, attempted first-degree murder, arson of a dwelling and criminal mischief.

The 3-year-old victim remains unconscious and unresponsive at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.